Typology of heroes in Evenki epic

(to the question of local and regional features)

Authors

  • Margarita Prokopevna YAKOVLEVA, ayakchan@mail.ru Institute of Humanities Research and Indigenous Studies of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25587/x3098-7506-5670-n

Keywords:

epic, folklore, heroic legends, nimngakan, Evenki, type of epic hero, hero, image, local features, mythological image

Abstract

The article analyzes the epic hero of the Evenkis of the Baikal region in comparison with the hero of the tales of the Eastern Evenkis. The study of the problem of local traditions of the Evenki heroic epic is considered a very relevant direction in modern Evenki folklore. Academic research related to the Evenki epic of the Baikal region is insignificant. This is due, first of all, to the few publications of the Evenki epic of the indicated region, and secondly, to the fragmentation of materials and the lack of separate texts in the original language (Evenki). The academic novelty of this study lies in the fact that for the first time a generalized analysis of regional-local features such as an epic hero is given. The aim of the study was to analyze the type of hero in the heroic epics of two regional groups: the Baikal and Eastern Evenkis. To solve the tasks, the author used typological and comparative methods. As a result of the analysis, the author came to the following conclusions: the stereotype of the protagonist in the epic of the Eastern Evenkis is a lone hero who was born in the newly emerged middle earth Dulin Buga. The features of a lone man are characteristic of him: he lives at the beginning of the creation of the world; does not know his origin; is a foot hunter; has no household; he builds his own home and creates objects of his culture. In the Evenki epic of the Baikal region, the hero is the best representative of a kind, tribe, has parents and relatives. The distinctive feature of the hero type of Baikal Evenkis is not the loneliness of the hero. In the heroic legends of this region, the warriors fight with real, earthly enemies who themselves come with various hostile intentions. The Evenki epic of the Baikal region represents a later era, where the social organization of the society is designated. The analysis revealed common features of the legend of the Bounty Evenki with the epic of the Okhotsk Evens. However, this result requires further comparative studies.

 

References

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Published

30-06-2020

How to Cite

YAKOVLEVA, M. P. . (2020). Typology of heroes in Evenki epic : (to the question of local and regional features). EPIC STUDIES, 98–106. https://doi.org/10.25587/x3098-7506-5670-n

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Section

Articles